Sawmill log-turner.



PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1903;

P. T. WILKES. SAWMILL LOG TURNER.

APPLICATION rum) mm. 9. 1903.

10 MODEL.

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UNITED STATES Fatented September 8, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

SAWMILL LOG-TURNER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,385, dated September 8, 1903..

Application filed February 9, 1903. Serial No. 142,560. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK THOMAS WILKES, of the city of Brantford, county of Brant, Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sawmill Log-Turners, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to devise simple and effective means for taking logs from the log-deck of the mill and placing them on the carriage and for turning them while on the carriage; and it consists, essentially, of a tooth-bar or nigger having operative connection with two steam-cylinders, one vertical and one horizontal, in such a manner that it may be moved vertically or swung on its lower end as a pivot or given a combination of the two movements, substantially as hereinafter more specifically described and then definitely claimed.

Figure l is an elevation of a portion of a sawmill embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is plan view of parts of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the cross-head embracing the tooth or nigger bar. Fig. at is a side elevation of the same.

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, A is the foundation-frame of the machine, on which the carriage B of the mill is adapted to run on suitable tracks.

0 is the log-deck.

D is a vertical steam-cylinder provided, of course, with the usual piston and piston-rod E. A valve F is indicated in dotted lines, by means of which steam may be admitted to or exhausted from opposite ends of the piston in the ordinary well-known manner. At the upper end of the piston-rod is pivoted the lower end of the tooth-bar or nigger-bar G. This bar carries the pivoted teeth or dogs a, which are of ordinary construction and need not be particularly described.

H is a cross-head running on the guides 11 and adapted to guide the piston-rod E.

I is a horizontal cylinder located somewhat below the level of the carriage B. This cyl inder is provided with the usual piston and the piston-rod J. It is alse provided with a suitable valve K, by means of which steam the dotted lines in Fig. 1.

maybe admitted to or exhausted from the opposite ends of the cylinder, as desired. To the end of the piston-rod J is secured the cross-head L, moving on suitable guides c. This cross-head, as shown particnlarlyin Fig. 3, is notched or forked to receive the niggerbar G. The open front of the notch or fork is closed by the cross-bar M, which is set in notches formed in the end of the cross-head. Secured to the ends of this cross-bar are the bolts N, passing through lugs d, formed on the cross-head. Suitable washers and nuts 6 are screwed on the ends of the bolts, and between the washers and nuts and the lugs d are placed coil springs 0. These springs thus tend to yieldingly maintain the cross-bar in its normal position, and their tension may be readily adjusted by means of the nuts 6. Behind the nigger-bar in the cross-head is journaled a roller P.

The operation of the device is substantially as follows: Presuming the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 1, if steam be admitted to the steam-cylinder D to raise the nigger-bar the latter slides through the crosshead L and turns a log resting on the sawcarriage. As the apparatus is'intended not only to turn the log, but also to bring it from the log-deck onto the carriage, the nigger-bar must be brought into the position shown by This is done by admitting the steam into the cylinder I in front of the piston, thus carrying the crosshead back or away from the carriage. To push the leg from the log-deck 0 onto the carriage, the nigger-bar is raised by admitting steam to the lower end of the cylinder D and at the same time is pushed toward the sawcarriage by admitting steam behind the piston of the horizontal cylinderI. The niggerbar is thus used as a hammer to drive the log onto the carriage, and in consequence of this hammer action it is necessary to have the space between the crossbar M and the roller P very little larger than the width of the nigger-bar to avoid hammering between the nigger-bar and the cross-head. When, however, the tooth-bar is in the position shown in dotted lines and is raised by the steam-cylinder D, the nigger-bar requires alarger space between the roller and the cross-bar, and it is for the purpose of allowing the cross-bar to described.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a device of the class described a nigger-bar, in combination with a steam-cylinder, to the piston-rod of which the lower end of the nigger-bar is pivotally connected; a substantially horizontal steam-cylinder; and a cross-head secured to the piston-rod of the said cylinder forked to embrace the niggerbar; and spring means tending to maintain the nigger-bar in contact with the back of the fork, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described a nigger-bar, in combination with a steam-cylinder, to the piston-rod of which the lower end of the nigger-bar is pivotally connected; a substantially horizontal steam-cylinder, a cross-head notched or forked to receive the nigger-bar and secured to the piston-rod of the said horizontal cylinder; a cross-bar forming the closure for the said notch or fork; and springs adapted to yieldingly retain the cross-bar in its normal position, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described a nigger-bar, in combination with a steam-cylinder, to the piston-rod of which the lower end of the nigger-bar is pivotally connected; a substantially horizontal steam cylinder; a cross-head notched or forked to receive the nigger-bar and secured to the piston-rod of the said horizontal cylinder; across-bar forming the closure for the said notch or fork; and adjustable springs adapted to yieldingly retain the cross-bar in its normal position, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the class described a nigger-bar, in combination with a steam-cylinder having a piston-rod to which the lower end of the nigger-bar is pivotally connected; a cross-head for the piston-rod and guides therefor; a substantially horizontal steamcylinder having a piston-rod; a cross-head notched or forked to receive the nigger-bar and secured to the piston-rod of the said horizontal cylinder; a cross-bar forming the closurefor the said notch or fork; springs adapted to yieldingly retain the cross-bar in its normal position; and guides for the last-mentioned cross-head, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the class described a nigger-bar; in combination with a verticallymovable part to which the nigger-bar is pivoted at its lower end; means for moving the said part; a cross-head notched or forked to receive the nigger-bar; a cross-bar forming the closure for the said notch or fork; springs adapted to yieldingly retain the cross-bar in its normal position; and means for guiding and horizontally moving the said cross-head, substantially as described.

Brantford, January 19, 1903.

FREDERICK THOMAS WILKES.

In presence of- R. L. MURRAY, A. MONAHAN. 

